Updated for 2025/26
£15,904 vs £21,404 Salary Comparison
Compare a £15,904 salary against £21,404. Find out exactly how much more (or less) you will take home after tax.
Gross Difference
+£5,500
per year
Take Home Extra
+£330.00
per month
You Keep
72%
of the raise
5-Year Gain
+£19,800
cumulative
Entry-Level Career Progression
This comparison is typical for early career moves or first promotions. At this salary range, most of your income is taxed at the basic rate (20%), so you keep a higher percentage of any raise.
- Negotiate hard - you keep ~70-80% of any increase at this level
- Consider employers offering good pension matching (often worth more than small salary differences)
- Look for roles with clear progression paths to higher bands
- Factor in benefits like free lunches, gym memberships, or transport subsidies
Compare Salaries
Enter multiple salaries to compare take-home pay for 2025/26
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Comparison Results
| Metric | £15,904 | £21,404 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gross Salary | £15,904 | £21,404 | £5,500 |
| Income Tax | £667 | £1,767 | £1,100 |
| National Insurance | £267 | £707 | £440 |
| Pension | £0 | £0 | £0 |
| Take-Home Pay (Yearly) | £14,970 | £18,930 | £3,960 |
| Take-Home (Monthly) | £1,248 | £1,578 | £330 |
| Effective Tax Rate | 5.9% | 11.6% | 5.7% |
£15,904
Gross£15,904
Take-Home£14,970
You Keep94.1%
£21,404
Gross£21,404
Take-Home£18,930
You Keep88.4%
Tax Band Analysis
Understanding where your money goes
£15,904
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£666.80
National Insurance£266.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,247.54
£21,404
Tax BandBasic Rate
Marginal Rate20%
Income Tax£1,766.80
National Insurance£706.72
Take Home (Monthly)£1,577.54
What £330.00 Extra Buys You
Real-world value of the take-home difference
Monthly Subscriptions
Netflix, Spotify, gym - £100.00/mo
Weekend Breaks
1-2 UK getaways per month at this budget
Full Comparison: £15,904 vs £21,404
£15,904
- Gross Pay£15,904.00
- Take Home (Year)£14,970.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,247.54
- Effective Tax Rate5.9%
£21,404
- Gross Pay£21,404.00
- Take Home (Year)£18,930.48
- Take Home (Month)£1,577.54
- Effective Tax Rate11.6%
The difference in take-home pay is £3,960 per year, which works out to £330.00 per month.